Triple accordion



Sept. 11, 1934.

H. M. LENTZ TRIPLE ACCORDION Filed April 28, I953 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,v wm m T m L m M M J M H a a 0 J 2 Q .M a W 8 a a fi .IW 3M 1 o m A: a d n1 v z WLW .JWIM 7.. L MI o I M W 2 Sept. 11, 1934. H. M. LENTZ TRIPLEACCORDION Filed April 28, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lillllldrlllllllll lllflAW M QK Patented Sept. 11, 1934 NT GFFEE TRIPLE ACCORDION Herman M.Lentz, Renville, Minn.

Application April 28, 1933, Serial No. 668,433

13 Claims.

This invention relates to musical instruments and more particularly to amusical instrument of the accordion type wherein a multiple number ofaccordions are connected together for the purpose of increasing thevolume and greatly adding to the novelty of the instrument.

Another object of this invention is the production of a novel tripleaccordion wherein three instruments are efficiently connected togetherto permit the same to be simultaneously operated adding greatly to thenovelty of the instrument, as well as the volume produced thereby.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple andefficient means for facilitating the operation of the similar keys ofthe various instruments which are connected together in unison by themanipulation of one set of keys by the fingers of the player.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appearthroughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawings2- Figure 1 is an end elevation of a series ofinstruments connected together to produce the triple accordion;

Figure 2 is 'a top'plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of one of the instruments or accordions;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the accordions connected in a triplebank;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional perspective view gsillustrating theconnection between .a series of similar keys of the various instrumentsand illustrating the manner in which the keys are simultaneouslyoperated;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view through one of the main operatingkeys of the central instrument;

Figure 8 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view illustrating theconnection of the key operating rod With one of the keys of the rearinstrument;

Figure 9 is a through a portion of the key of one of the keys of theforward instrument showing th operating rod connected thereto, and

Figure 10 is a section taken on line 10-.10 of Figure 4.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that I preferably employthree accordions or instruments which are connected together in a singlebank or-group, although I do not desire longitudinal sectional view tolimit myself to any particular number of accordions or instruments. Byparticularly con-@ sidering Figure 1, it will be seen that I employ acentral accordion or instrument which I refer to as A, a rear instrumentwhich I refer to as B, and a forward instrument which I refer to as ClThe instrument A is provided with a pair of reed chambers l whichcommunicate with air chambers 2. The air chambers 2 of the instrument Acommunicate with the air chambers 3 and 4 of the instruments B and Crespectively. The instrument B is provided with a pair of reed chambers5 and a pair of air chambers 3. The instrument C is provided with a pairof reed chambers 6 and a pair of air chambers 4. 7c The air chambers 3of the instrument B are connected together by means of a bellows orballast 7 for the purpose of creating sufficient air pressure for themanipulation of the accordion in the usual manner. 'A suitable bellowsor ballast 8 is also carried by the instrument C. The instrument A,however, is not provided with a bellows or ballast, but the air chambers2 of the instrument A communicate with the air chambers 3 and 4 of theinstruments B and C in a manner as is illustrated in detail in Figure 5.

By referring particularly to Figure 5, it will be seen that a suitablepacking strip 9 is interposed between the abutting walls or" the airchambers 2 and the air chambers 4 and suitas able communicating ports 10are formed in the walls of the air chambers 2 and 4 which alsocommunicate with the apertures 11 formed in the packing strip 9, in thisway setting up a complete communication between the chambers 2 and 4.The chambers 3 and 2 are similarly constructed to the manner asillustrated in Figure 5 and as described above, each of the chambers 3and 2 being so constructed as to provide communication, and each of thechambers 4 and 2 being also similarly connected. Suitable bolts 12, asillustrated in Figure 5 are employed for firmly connecting and bindingthe air chambers together and the packing strip 9 will constitute anefiicient seal to prevent th escape of the air from between the chambersor sections. By means of this structure, it will be seen that thecentral bellows or ballast may be eliminated. The corners of the airchambers 2, 3 and 4' are all preferably braced by means of corner braces13, clearly. 4 shownin the drawings.

Suitable straps 14 may be employed for holding'the accordions in theircompressed relation as is usual with such instruments and these. 11 6straps may be connected securely in any suitable or desired manner as iscommon to the trade. Furthermore, it should be understood that thedetail construction of the accordions may be varied without departingfrom the spirit of the invention so long as the structure falls withinthe scope of the appended claims.

As is shown in the drawings, the central instrument A is provided with asuitable keyboard 15 which supports a plurality of playing keys 16 inthe conventional manner to be operated upon by the fingers of theinstrumentalist. The construction of one of these keys is illustrated inFigure 7 in detail, and comprises a finger-engaging button 1'? carriedby the usual key bar 18 which is normally held in an extended positionby means of the spring 19. The key bar 18 carries a rearwardly extendingrod 20 to which is hingedly connected a link rod 21 and this link rod 21is preferably threaded into a ferrule 22 which is soldered, welded, or,in any suitable manner attached to the key 23 of the instrument Bcorresponding with the key 16 of the instrument A. The key bar 18 alsois provided with a forwardly extending rod 24 which is hingedlyconnected to a link rod 25, the link rod 25 having an offset or upwardlybent loop portion 26 which extends over the top of the key-board 27 ofthe instrument C and is provided with a downwardly or inturned terminalportion 28, which terminal portion 28 is removably secured within aferrule or other socket 29 soldered or otherwise secured to the key 30,which key 30 is preferably in alignment with the keys 16 and 23 of theinstruments A and B respectively, and correspond therewith to sound thesame musical note when operated. A guiding strip 31 is carried by thetop or outer edge of the key-board 40' as the key 16 of the centralinstrumentA is manipulated; This structure is illustrated in detail inFigure 6. It should be understood that each successive key upon thekey-board 15 of the central instrument A is likewise connected with thesimilar key upon the instruments B and C as is illustrated in Figure 2,the connection in each instance being the same as that illusbe limitedto the particular type of keys, nor

to the particular type of instrument employed.

By referring in detail to Figure 4, which illustrates the reverse sideof the instruments or bottom thereof, it will be seen that the air 70,control bar 33 is located upon the'bottom or of the operator.

ers 36 which are grooved, as indicated clearly in Figure 10, therebyholding the bars 33, 34 and 35 against accidental lateraldisplacementand at the same time permitting free longitudinal slidingmovement of the bars. These rollers 36 are carried by the base plates 37carried upon the bottom of each instrument and the side walls 38 of thebase plates 39 are preferably notched, as indicated at 39, to providechannels for receiving the bars 33, 34 and 35. The air valve control bar33 is preferably provided with a suitable handle or finger-engaging hook40 to permit the gripping of the bar 33 and facilitate the reciprocationof the bar 33 at the will The bar 33 is provided with three laterallyextending fingers 41 arranged in spaced relation, each finger having aninturned terminal 42 which is adapted to contact with the conventionalair valve 43 carrier by each instrument A, B and C. Consequently, byreciprocating the bar 33, the air valves 43 may be simultaneously openedand closed at the will of the instrumentalist, these valves 43 beingpreferably of the spring-pressed type to normally hold the valves closedand permitting the opening-thereof when the fingers 41 are forced intocontact therewith.

The bars 34 and 35 which constitute the base key control bars areprovided with inwardly extending arms 44, the arms of the bars 45extending toward the arms 44 of the bar 35. Each arm 44 is provided withan inwardly extending terminal 45 which is adapted to contact with thespring-pressed base keys 46 of the instruments Band C only. V

'The bars 34 and 35 are provided near'their center with straight fingers47, the fingers 47 of the bars 34 and 35 extending toward each other andnormally projecting under the finger lever 48 of the spring-pressed basekeys 49 of the central instrument A; This structure is shown clearly inFigures 1 and 4. It will therefore be seen that by operating the fingerlever 48 of the base keys 49, or by depressing these keys the straightfinger 47 will be engaged by the finger lever 48 and the bars 34 and 35,depending upon which key is depressed, will be reciprocated therebysimultaneously operating the similar base keys of the instruments B andC. By means of the structure illustrated and described, it will be seenthat a very simple means has been provided for simultaneously actuatinga series (in the present instance 3) base keys in unison upon threeseparate accordions, thereby greatly increasing the volume and adding tothe novelty of the instrument. The treble notes may also besimultaneously sounded by depressing the keys 16 upon the key-board 15which will simultaneously depress the corresponding keys 23 on the keyboard 53 and the corresponding keys 3!) on the key-board 2'7. Suitablestop keys of the conventional type, indicated by the numeral 50, arecarried by each instrument A, B and C, as illustrated.

As is shown in Figure 3, a suitable leather l handle or supporting strap51 may be employed as is common to instruments of this type. A suitablestrap handle 52 may also be provided to facilitate the handling of theinstrument.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in the mechanicalconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts may'be employedwithout departing from the spirit of within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new is: 1. A- multipleaccordion of the class described comprising a central instrument and aplurality of auxiliary instruments operatively connected togetherand-adapted to simultaneously operate, each instrument having akey-board, a series of keys carried by each key-board, the keyboard ofthe central instrument having a plurality of key bars, and linkshingedly connected to said key bars and connected to the. correspondingkeys of the auxiliary instruments for simultaneously actuating thecorresponding keys of all of the instruments. i 2. A multiple accordionof the class described comprising a central instrument and a pluralityof auxiliary instruments operatively connected together and adapted tosimultaneously operate, each instrument having a key-board, a series ofkeys carried by each key-board, the key-board of the central instrumenthaving a plurality of key bars, each key bar having an inwardlyextending finger, a connecting link hingedly secured to each finger,said connecting links being anchored in engagement with the keys of anauxiliary instrument, each key bar also having a forwardly extendingfinger, forwardly extending links hinged to said forwardly extendingfingers, and said forwardly extending links hav- CJl ing ofiset loopportions overhanging the keyboard of one of the auxiliary instrumentsand connected to the keys of the last-mentioned auxiliary instrument.

3. A multiple accordion of the class described comprising a centralinstrument and a plurality of auxiliary instruments operativelyconnected together and adapted to simultaneously operate, eachinstrument having a key-board, a series of keys carried by eachkey-board, the key-board of 40 the central instrument having a pluralityof key bars, each key bar having an inwardly ex tending finger, aconnecting link hingedly secured to each finger, said connecting linksbeing anchored in engagement with the keys of an auxiliary instrument,each key bar also having a forwardly extending finger, forwardlyextending links hinged to said forwardly extending fingers, saidforwardly extending links having oifset 100p portions overhanging thekey-board of one of the auxiliary instruments and connected to the keysof the last-mentioned auxiliary instrument, and a notched guide barcarried by the last-mentioned auxiliary instrument and receiving saidloop portions for guiding said loop portions in their reciprocatingmovement as the keys are actuated.

4. A multiple accordion of the class described comprising a primaryinstrument and an auxiliary instrument, said instruments having abut-60' comprising a primary instrument and an auxiliary instrument, saidinstruments having abutting relation, each instrument having an airchamber, means for forming a communication between the air chambers ofthe various instruments, a bellows carried by one instrument, and

a sealing strip interposed between the instruments for preventing theescape of air therebetween and provided with a communicating .port forpermitting a communication between 'the air chambers of the instruments.

6. A' triple accordion oftthe class described comprising a centralinstrument, an auxiliary instrument'mounted upon each side of said cen''tral instrument, each instrument having air chambers," the air chambershaving abutting wallswhich are provided with communicating apertures topermit intercommunication between the air chambers oi the variousinstruments, a sealing medium interposed between the air chambers of theinstruments to prevent the escape of air, a bellows carried by theauxiliary instruments for supplying air to the air chambers of all theinstruments, and operating kes carried by each instrument for connectingthe corresponding keys of the various instruments to permit thesimultaneous operation of the similar keys of the various instruments.

7. A multiple accordion of the class described comprising a maininstrument and an auxiliary instrument, an air valve control rodslidably mounted across said main and auxiliary instru ments, an airvalve carried by each instrument, and means carried by said air valvecontrol rod for simultaneously actuating said air valves carried by thevarious instruments.

8. A multiple accordion of the class described comprising a maininstrument and an auxiliary instrument, an air valve carried by eachinstrument, an air valve control bar movable transversely across theinstruments, said bar having 1 a plurality of laterally projectingfingers adapted to be brought into contact with said air valves as saidbar is shifted, and means for guiding said bar in its transversemovement.

9. A multiple accordion of the class described 1 comprising a maininstrument and an auxiliary instrument, an air valve carried by eachinstrument, an air valve control bar movable transversely across theinstruments, said bar having a plurality of laterally projecting fingersadapted to be brought into contact with said air Valves as said bar isshifted, spaced guiding rollers engaging said bar for holding the baragainst accidental displacement and guiding said bar in its longitudinalshifting movement, and an operating handle carried by said bar.

10. A multiple accordion of this class described comprising a maininstrument and an auxiliary instrument, said instruments beingoperatively connected together, a base key carried by each instrument, abase key control bar slidably mounted upon said instruments andextending transversely across the same, said bar having a projectingfinger, said base key having a finger lever overhanging saidlast-mentioned projecting finger for contacting therewith and shiftingsaid bar longitudinally as said finger lever is depressed, and a secondprojecting finger carried by said bar and adapted to contact with thebase key of the auxiliary instrument whereby the similar base keys ofthe different instruments may be simultaneously operated.

11. A multiple accordion of the class described comprising a maininstrument and an auxiliary instrument, said instruments beingoperatively connected together, a base key carried by each instrument, abase key control bar slidably mounted upon said instruments andextending transversely across the same, said bar having a projectingfinger, said base key having a finger lever overhanging saidlast-mentioned projecting finger for contacting therewith and shiftingsaid bar longitudinally as said finger lever is depressed, a secondprojecting finger carried by said bar and adapted to contact with thebase rec key of the auxiliary instrument whereby the similar base keysof the different instruments may be simultaneously operated, and. spacedgrooved rollers contacting with said bar for guiding the same in itstransverse movement and holding the same against accidentaldisplacement.

12. A multiple accordion comprising a series of instruments arranged inabutting and contacting relation, means for securing the instrumentsfirmly together for simultaneous operation, a series of keys carried byeach instrument, the keys of one instrument being arranged in a parallelplane vwith respect to the adjacent instrument, and means for directlyconnecting the keys of one series with the keys of the adjacent

